President's Day provides the perfect opportunity to honor Concordia College's first leader: I. F. (Ingebrikt Fretheim) Grose. When Concordia opened its doors in the fall of 1891, the institution was officially an academy though “college” was in its name. As an academy, Concordia offered two-year programs of study including a business course, practical course, and classical course. Thus, the title of the head of the college was principal rather than president, though the function of the position was synonymous. Grose came to Concordia from St. Olaf where he was a faculty member from 1886 to 1891. When he arrived at Concordia in September 1891, he moved into Bishop Whipple Hall to commence his duties as principal while the building was renovated. Grose later reminisced in an October 27, 1939 Concordian article: “It was in this building and at this time, I believe that when I had gone to bed, I could hear mice undistubedly [sic] hold their nightly frolics. They must have pulled off marathon races throughout the building.” I. F. Grose remained the school’s principal until 1893; he continued to serve Concordia in other roles, including treasurer and instructor, until 1896. Grose Hall is named in his honor.